Tappet wrench



April 9, 1929- I s. MQMILLER 11,708,147

TAPPET WRENCH Filed Jan. 24, 1927 QZZZ/S Patented Apr. 9, 1929.,

SVEBI'M. MT'LLEB OF BERWYN, ILLINOIS.

'IAPPET wnnnorr. i

Application filed January 24, 192?. Serial No. 163,071.

wrenches are retained in parallel relation with each other in such manner that the two wrenches can be o ierated by one hand of a user, thus freeing the other hand of the op- 'erator for using an additional wrench for the purpose of securing proper adjustment on a tappet. r I

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which t Fig. 1 is a vertical elevation of the wrenches partly in section shown in position on a tappet.

Fig. 2 is a top plan of the same taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view with one of the wrenches swung relatively to the other as is done in the use thereof.

In the adjusting of tappets of internal combustion engines of the poppet valve type, such as used in automobiles, it is of greatadvantage to use three wrenches inorder to secure accurate adjustment, one of the wrenches engaging the flattened sides of the tappet itself, another wrench to engage and break loose the lock-nut that abuts against the top end of the tappet, and the third wrench for turning the tappet adjusting cap Ordinarily the tappets in this type of engine are not located in a readily accessible position, and considerable difficulty is encountered in securing a proper and uniform adjustment of all the tappets due to the inabih.

ity of the mechanic to hold the tappet and adjusting screw in properly adjusted position while tightening the lock nut.

This difficulty has been overcome in the present invention by providing a pair of thin, flat end wrenches connected together by a link which has both pivotal'and slotted connection between the wrenches, in such manner as to permit either of the wrenches to be moved in any direction in a plane parallel to the plane of the other wrench. The two wrenches being thus retained in parallel relation to each other, they can be readily operated by one hand of the mechanic, and thus the tappet and lock nut can both be readily en aged by the pair of eoacting wrenches operated in one hand of the user, leaving his other hand free to use a third wrench for securing the proper adjustment of the tappet adjusting screw, and then holding the screw in such position untilthe lock nut is tightened against the top surface of-r the tappet.

' In the construction shown in the drawings, the wrenches comprise a pair of relatively thin, flat strips 1 and 2, each having a head end t and 5, respectively, and handles 6 andv 7,1GSP8Ct1VQly. The heads 4 and 5 are bifurcated in the usual manner of end wrenches,

providing jaws which are spaced apart to receive the standardsize of lock nut and tappet. I

Means are provided for pivotally connect-- ing the wrenches 1 and 2 together, and comprise arelatively short connecting link 10 having one end thereof pivotally .connected at 11 to the wrench 2, and the other end thereof, slidably and pivotally retained in a slot 12 formed longitudinally in the wrench 1.

The slot 12 is of sufficient width to snugly engage the shank 13 of a rivet, that has a relatively large fiat head 14 for bearing against the upper surface of the wrench 1.

In the operation of the wrenches, one of them, preferably the wrench 2, if placed on the flattened sides 20 of the tappet 21, with the wrench 1 slid back, by means of the slot therein, out of the way so that it will not in terfere with the placing of the wrench on the upper end of the tappet. After the one wrench is in position and engaging the fiattened sides of the upper end of the tappet, the other wrench is then slid forward so that the head thereof engages the lock nut 22, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The two handles 6 and 7 are then shifted relatively to each other, while the heads thereof en gage the concentric parts, both wrenches turning on a common center, the upper wrench being preferably shifted, as shown in Fig. 3 of the'drawings, to loosen the lock nut 22 on the threaded shank 23 of the tappet adjusting screw 24;. 2

After the lock nut has been loosened, the operator, holding the pair of wrenches in one hand,'with one finger inserted between the handles to keep them from closing with respect to each other, then takes another wrench in his other hand and properly adjusts the cap screw 24 until the desired clearance or spacing between it and the lower end of the valve stem 25 has been secured.

' l/Vhene proper adjustment has been obtained, the cap screw 24is held in its adjusted position by the single Wrench (not shown) held in the one hand of the operator, and-the finger Withdrawn from between the handles v 6 and 7 of the Wrenches l and 2. The two handles are then-squeezed together, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, or passed'on beyond each other, depending upon the rotation of the Wrenchesrelative to each other Which is needed -for securely tightening the lock nut 22 down againstthe upper end of the tappet 21. When this has been secured, the'wrenches may then be withdrawn.

Although but one specific embodiment of this lnvention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shownmay be altered'or omitted Without departing from the spirit of this inventionas defined by the following claim. v

I claim:

A device of the class described comprising apair of renches, each having a head end and a handle and means for retaining saidrenchesinpa-rallel planes for permitting the respectlve heads thereof to engage concentric nuts and the handles thereof to swing relatively to each other inparallel jplanes WltllSfLlCl concentrically placed h'ead's as a common center, said'means comprlsing a l nk having a head on one side adjacent one end thereof, plvotally engaging. one of sald Wrenches, and a head on the OPPOSltG side adjacent the other end thereof for pivotally and slidably engaging the other otsaid rvvrenc hes, said link functioning to hold said ting said wrenchesto pass each other when swung 1n oppos te (llIQClI'lQIISJ 1 V Signed at Chicago this 21st'day of Jan 7 

